A health system is looking to train the next generation of cardiovascular physicians, while honoring one of its own.

Spectrum Health said last week that it will begin a cardiovascular fellowship program in 2017.

"Next logical step"

The program will be named The Richard McNamara Cardiovascular Fellowship Program, after the system's “highly respected” cardiologist Dr. Richard McNamara, who has spent nearly 30 years practicing in West Michigan.

The program is being funded in part through a $5-million endowment created by donors.

Richard Breon, president and CEO, Spectrum Health, said a fellowship program providing “the most comprehensive training possible to the next generation of cardiovascular physicians” is “the next logical step” for the system, which he described as having “a fully integrated heart and vascular program with high volumes.”

Spectrum has selected Dr. Nagib Chalfoun to lead the fellowship program. He is a board-certified cardiologist and electrophysiologist and fellow of the Heart Rhythm Society, who completed his cardiology fellowship at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York and a clinical cardiac electrophysiology fellowship at the University of Michigan.

Fellowship program

The Richard McNamara Cardiovascular Fellowship Program will initially serve three new cardiology fellows a year, with the first cohort expected to start in 2017.

Over time, the program is expected to grow to serve more physician residents looking to specialize in cardiology and cardiovascular medicine.

Cardiology fellowships consist of three years of training in cardiovascular medicine, according to Spectrum.

Spectrum said fellowship programs are considered a necessary component of comprehensive specialty programs and "a key to attracting and recruiting talented physicians."

Charlsie Dewey is a former Grand Rapids Business Journal staff reporter who most recently covered manufacturing, restaurants, food and agriculture, travel and tourism, transportation, nonprofits, energy and sustainability.

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